The youth survey in Østfold 2008, was a follow up of the HEPRO project in Østfold. The project leader was Østfold County Council, supported by TNS Gallup who was responsible for data collection and The Norwegian Institute of Public Health who did the analysis.

The project was innovative in making an electronically system and methods for data collection, later adopted by the Norwegian region, Hedmark.

29 out of 46 high schools in the county took part. More than 1500 pupils answered, whereby almost 1000 were senior students (15 – 16 years old). The analysis referred to below is only conducted based upon the answers from the older students.

The view on health that HEPRO builds upon is a broad and comprehensive view, seeing health as something more than the mere absence of disease. Health also includes physical, mental and social well-being. This broad health perspective forms the conceptual foundation for the survey. The background for the survey was that more knowledge about health development among children and adolescents in Østfold was needed. The youth survey in Østfold 2008 served several purposes:

• It showed the health status of the age group in focus, 15-16 years.
• By repeating the survey later it will be possible to track development over time
• It revealed current problem areas in health and environmental politics
• It can be used as a reference for local action and research of certain groups

This survey showed that the participants in The youth survey in Østfold 2008 to a large extent viewed their own health as good or very good, approximately 90 percent supplied this answer. But there were also more worrying findings.

For more information about the results, click here.

For previous news about the youth survey, click here.

Download the project plan here (Norwegian)

Download the technical report from the survey (Norwegian)

Download the questionaire used in the survey here (Norwegian)